Deep-rooted conspiracy behind Darjeeling violence: Mamata Banerjee

This was the first death since violent protests returned to Darjeeling on June 8, after a gap of a few years.

He said resorting to violence would never help them in finding a solution and asked the people living there to remain calm and peaceful.

As the indefinite shutdown to demand a separate state entered its third day, GJM activists took out a protest rally from the party's headquarters in Singmari.

Almost 50 people, mostly police, have been injured in riots and arson attacks that have rattled the picturesque hill station for more than a week and caused thousands of mostly Indian tourists to pack their bags and flee. "Media persons are in danger, they are being blackmailed and threatened", she said.

He also said two others - Dile Subba and Lakpa Sherpa were critically wounded among the 13 others injured. "I salute the martyrs killed in police firing". They are both martyrs.

"The final battle is on. From her point of view, we are terrorists, so the CM has no right to talk to terrorists", The Indian Express reported. Gurung's claim was dismissed by ADG Sharma.

Later in the day, the effects of the trouble were felt in Kalimpong's Gorubathan market where GJM supporters allegedly torched a vehicle of the power supply authority, while the Jaldhaka police station was vandalised. Tamang, who belongs to IRS's 2nd Battalion, has been shifted to a private nursing home in Siliguri, the police said.

"The protesters attacked one of our assistant commanders T N Tamang with a khukri (knife)", a senior official told Xinhua.

A delegation of the GJM leadership, including Giri, was in Delhi earlier this week and met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to apprise him of the incidents in the Darjeeling hills.

Police said GJM supporters threw stones, bottles at government forces, who responded by using teargas and resorting to baton charging.

Mumbai: BJP president Amit Shah today took potshots at West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee over her remark that there was a conspiracy behind the stir for Gorkhaland, saying she sees "conspiracy in everything". So many bombs can not be gathered in a day.

She also voiced her suspicion that a foreign country could also be backing the current unrest in the hills.

"There is a terrorist brain behind this hooliganism and vandalism". Leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, said Vikram Rai, son of GJM MLA Amar Rai, was picked up by the police. "But with the state, the condition would be that they withdraw all forces and allow normalcy to return and let the Centre initiate a dialogue process", Rai said.

Police have denied firing at the protesters. They are only throwing bombs. "But we have to prepare ourselves", he said. "We can not tolerate this hooliganism", said Additional Director General (Law & Order) Anuj Sharma. "The police will be tough." he said.

Normal life has been hit for the past six days and on Sunday too shops remained closed while vehicles were off the road.

Shouts of "Police go back" and "Gorkhaland-Gorkhaland" reverberated through the picturesque hills of Darjeeling as some Gorkha activists claimed the protest has shifted from the political to the commoners' movement in the hills.